H2O

While touring as a roadie for Sick of It All, Toby Morse would sometimes sing with the band during encores. In 1995 Morse decided to start his own band and formed H2O in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The band toured... ↓

H2O is an American punk rock band formed in New York City in 1995.

While touring as a roadie for Sick of It All, Toby Morse would sometimes sing with the band during encores. In 1995 Morse decided to start his own band and formed H2O in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The band toured relentlessly through most of 1995 and 1996, opening up for almost every hardcore band that hit the east coast, including an opening slot on a Rancid bill, at the Roseland Ballroom. Another huge show was when the band opened for No Doubt at Tramps (NYC) on Easter in 1996. In January 1996 they would record their self-titled CD at Brielle Studios-NYC and would release it in May. The CD was basically all the songs they had and would play out at the time. They would tour that whole summer with Shelter and Murphys Law. H2O performed at CBGB’s in October of that year and recorded a video for “Family Tree”. They also toured with Social Distortion in October ‘96. In June 1997 H2O quickly recorded and released “Thicker Than Water” in October. They toured all over the world until the end of the year and through 1998. In the year 1997 they would open for Misfits, Pennywise, Sick of It All, CIV and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and Warped Tour 98 and 99. They would tour Japan for the 1st time in 1997 & return in 1998. They received MTV play with “Everready”.

In 1999, they recorded and released F.T.T.W. in May and made a video for “One Life One Chance” and again toured year around (in Europe, Japan & U.S.) and into 2000. They also toured on the 1999 Warped Tour (sharing a bus with 7Seconds). In 1999 and 2000 they would tour with NOFX, The Bouncing Souls, 7Seconds and Saves The Day. That summer of 2000, H2O would record a cover of the Ice Cube song It Was a Good Day and shoot a video around New York City in the middle of the night.

In November and December 2000 they recorded their first major label CD on MCA Records titled Go. They recorded Go at Rumbo Recorders Studios owned at the time by 1970s pop stars Captain and Tennille, in Canoga Park, California.

Go was released in May 2001 and produced by Matt Wallace (Faith No More, Replacements, Maroon 5) and toured extensively (over 150 to 200 shows in a year) H2O made a video for “Role Model” and performed “Memory Lane” on the Conan O’Brien show in May of that year. They toured Warped Tour with blink-182, Good Charlotte, New Found Glory and Face to Face and a full Canada tour in 2001. In 2002 H2O recorded & released the EP All We Want, 3 new songs with 2 live tracks and the “Role Model” video. They also toured in Japan, Europe and U.S. extensively. They would later tour U.S. & Canada with Sum 41 and Box Car Racer.

H2O returned to the studio in January 2008 to begin working on their fifth studio album and had posted new songs on their MySpace page. On January 14, 2008, the band announced they signed to Bridge 9 Records, and the new album was released on May 27, 2008. Titled Nothing To Prove, it was their first album of new material in seven years. The band proceeded to support the album’s release by opening for Rancid on a series of U.S. tour dates at various House of Blues venues. The band would go on to tour Europe extensively that summer.

In March 2008, it was announced H2O would play at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in The United Kingdom.

H2O recently released a DVD titled One Life One Chance. The band also opened for the Dropkick Murphys during their St. Paddy’s Day Tour in winter of 2009.

H2O shot videos for “What Happened” and “Nothing to Prove” from the ‘Nothing to Prove’ cd.

They celebrated their 15th Anniversary with tour dates in U.S., Europe, South America, Japan and all over the world in 2010.

In August 2010, H2O played on a boat around Manhattan.

During 2010 South American Tour (Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela) Mitts (Madball guitar player) filled in for Todd Morse because he was on tour with The Offspring.

In February through May 2011, they returned to the studio to begin recording a covers CD of some of their favorite punk bands. They also toured Australia on the Soundwave 2011 tour in late February/March and Europe in April and May 2011. In August 2011 they will be touring the UK, and will be playing in Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland for the first time.

On November 15, 2011 H2O released Don’t forget your Roots, a 15 song tribute CD to some of their favorite bands.

On January 1, 2013 H2O posted on their Facebook page that a new album would be released sometime in 2013, but recently Toby has stated that the band will be completing this fall tour with New Found Glory and Alkaline Trio, spending the holidays at home and be in the recording studio come February 2014.